The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-29
STANLEY,s DEATH UNLIKELY.
Returned African Travellers Doubt the Pub
fished Raports.


iished Reports.
Washington Special 0 New York Herald
Mr.. W. p. Tisdel, late commissioner to the
Free State or the Congo from the United States,
was to day interviewed by your correspondent
in reference to the reported death of Henry ~
Stanley. Having been over large portion OF
the region which makes up the territory trav-
ersed by Mr.. Stanley he is thoroughly compe-
tent TO speak Mr. Tisdei says he does not
think Mr.. Stanley has met his death, certainly
not. he says, by being shot, unless by his own
men and this is hardly probable Doubtless
there has been trouble within the ranks of the
expedition, but Stanley and his able lieutenant,
Troup know too we'll how. handle the men
who accompany them to admit of their getting
the upper hand of them. The Houssa men
from the Upper Niger and the Aanzi.
bar the only bearers OF
firearms with Mr.. Stanley. AS rule they can
be depended upon; at least such was my expert
ence with them. The natives of the country
through which Mr. Stanley was travelling at
last accounts have no knowle ledge of the use OF
firearms so the statement that the explorer was
killed by shot from gun IN the hands OF
native 1nay be dismissed. There may have been
trouble in the matter of or because of the short
ness of supplies. but hardly of sufficient impor-
lance could this have been 30 cause revolt
However, this may have happened, and II Stan
ley's men turn against him the result would, In
my opinion, be serious than anything
which might come from the natives. Certain 1t
is Mr. Stanley has set out upon q perltous
journey and he is wandering among the WIDEST
and most savage tribes of Africa. He will have
end of fighting, but, unless he Is killed or lost
by some accident dies from the effects tof
some terrible fever. will come on: all right,
probably on the Indian ocean. north or Hanzl-
bar perhaps by way of the Nile.
YES continued Dir. Tlsdel, II read what
Lieut. Taunt said about there being abund-
ance of provisions in the country. canno:
speak of the Arrowini district, but certainly
through the country where Travelled there was
O famine, and it extended along the entire line.
1t was a constant struggle for the natives
procure food In many places my men were I'M
able to buy food. because the natives did not
have it The food question is very serious one.
rather that is my opinion. and the only way
thet Stanley will get along will be TO carry
plenty of food with him. This he has done, no
doubt.
81 hardly think that Stanley can have been
drowned yet it is possible. The river is treach-
erous and in OF accident a panic would
be sure to follow, and the result which attends
a panic among those people is hard TO foretell.
II learn that the cable has been completed to
San Tone. When l left the coas. it just
about being opened to Dissacos. Ii the cable is
in working order to San Tone l think there
would have been ample time TO get the news OF
any ~ishap to the coast and thence to Europe.
San 1 ne is only four hundred miles from Bona
and shl ,e hundred miles from Banana Point. l
hardly lhink. however, that there is any reason
believe that Stanley is dead Il he is we
shall soon know it.
II have no reason to change my opinion about
the Congo. l wrote a straightforward, truthful
account of the country as saw 1t. nothing more.
Time will tell whether not my opinion was
correct"
Lieutenant Emory Fl. Taunt, of the navy. who
has returned TO Washington after years
spent in exploring the Congo river in Africa, in
reference TO tne published reports OF the death
of Henry NJ. Stanley, the African explorer. said
to day he did not believe that Stanley met his
death in the manner alleged and thinks that
the sensational reports which have been pub
lshed have no foundation in fact. He says that
when last heard from Stanley strongly in
trenched In camp in the Arrowimi country,
about eight hundred miles above Stanley Pool
The natives of this region, while the most saw
age of any tribe along the banks of the Congo.
have other arms of warfare than knives and
spears, and would have no chance OF victory over
such a large force as that employed by the
plorer. Nor would he, who has universal
reputation for prudence and caution, heedlessly
expose himself to tha fire Of his own natives and
the poisoned arrows of his antagonists. Further
more, supplies are plentiful along That part or
the and there would have been neces-
sisy of fight to obtain them.
Concerning the report that Stanley
drowned by the sinking Of his steamer, Lieu
tenant Taunt says that the river in the Arrow
imi district contains other distractions than
snags and sand-banks, and even had the steamer
struck one of the snaRs It would be very easy
matter either to run the steamer ashore or upon
a sand bank before t could sink. The Henry
Reed constantly carries two boats in tow, and in
time of extreme danger they could be brought
almost instantly into Apart from ~ this,
Lieutenant Taunt affirms that it would be
physical i'm possibility for the telegram which
left St. Thomas on the I'd of July to reach the
coast and Europe by this time. He says it would
require ten days least to steam from the Ar
rowimi district to Stanley Pool and then. if the
boat left immediately, another ten days would
be consumed in the journey to Naradi and two
days from there to Bona. Lieutenant Taunt in
the most positive terms characterized the whole
report as sensational and entirely improbable to
all who acquainted with the condition of
things the Congo river.